The Fallen

This is a new day. Another day we find ourselves in this world. We look back 11 years ago and remember those that died in New York, and my brothers and sisters in arms who gave their lives in the wars overseas. I will always miss them. Josh, Murph, and Reg, you will never be forgotten, and we will carry your memory with us forever. 

I spoke of this before, but I feel it is good to be restated. I knew reg for about 5 months. He was Navy EOD and assigned to our team. Those guys are the best at that job, hands down. You will not find a better, more knowledgeable and capable group of guys amongst the branches. He died on January 2nd of this year by a command detonated IED. He was always at the front of the patrol, scanning, finding and disabling pressure plates. His personality matched his professionalism. Not once did I ever hear him complain. He was always happy, brought so much life to the team house, and I can't think of a time he didn't have us smiling. 

I had a total of about 8 weeks with Reg now that I think about it, and knew him for 5 months, I was in other parts of the country the majority of the time. Not once did I share my faith with him, or talk to him to find out his stance. Whether or not Reg was saved or had ever heard about Christ I'll never know. But, that is just it, I'll never know, because I missed the opportunity. I do not mean to insult and in no way want to offend anyone if they have not served, but for those of us that have served overseas, there is a taste of life that you cannot find anywhere else, and unless you have experienced such things will never have. We see our mortality and realize how quickly we can be taken out of this world. It does not really effect us, it just makes us aware and in many ways causes us to take everyday to it's fullest. And there is a connection we share with each other that cannot be explained, experience and life lessons learned that cannot be put into words. We feel every loss of brothers and sisters even if we do not know them.

 From all this I have realized that we cannot afford to miss even one opportunity. Christ gave us a commission, to go into all the nations and preach Him. His death, burial, and resurrection. His love for every single person on this earth. Matthew 18:14 tells us that it is not the will of the Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. God wants all of mankind to seek Him. To call out to Him Abba Father. His love, mercy and grace are radiating down upon all mankind, calling beseeching. He has set forth the path to true love, by His own blood. He bore our sin, took our punishment, and death upon Himself so that we may have life anew. Don't allow another day to pass bound by the flesh, but live it for Christ; be filled with the Holy Spirit. Take His love letter, His truth and Life to the world, to those you come in contact with everyday. Living water, our dead souls thirst so much for it, do not withhold it one more second from the captive. Take this day in victory in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Coming King!!